August 15, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Liberty ahead Breanna Stewart (30) and defender Sabrina Ionescu (20) have a good time throughout the first half in opposition to the LA Sparks at Crypto.com Area. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities The Paris Olympics could also be over, however the recreation between the Las Vegas Aces and the visiting New York Liberty will function loads of Olympic expertise.
Ten Olympians – together with Crew USA’s six gold medalists – will share the courtroom as Las Vegas and New York proceed their respective postseason campaigns.
The Liberty welcomed again 4 gamers from Paris this week and defeated the host Los Angeles Sparks 103-68 on Thursday within the first recreation between the 2 groups since July 16.
“I wasn’t fairly positive what to anticipate, however we bought off to begin and it felt good,” stated New York coach Sandy Brondello, who led Australia to a bronze medal in Paris.
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, who helped the U.S. girls’s basketball group win its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal, mixed for 45 factors in Thursday’s victory.
Stewart scored a game-high 27 factors, whereas Ionescu added 18 factors and 6 assists for the league-leading Liberty (22-4).
Nyara Sabally (6 factors, 9 rebounds) and Leonie Fibic (4 factors, 4 steals) additionally contributed for New York after taking part in for Germany in Paris.
The Liberty received 90-82 on June 15 in Las Vegas, going through an Aces group that hadn’t performed since July 16 after fielding six of the WNBA’s main gamers Take part within the Olympics.
A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Grey and Jackie Younger return to Las Vegas after win with Crew USA s, whereas Megan Gustafson rejoins the Aces after taking part in for Spain.
No. 5 Las Vegas (16-8) additionally retained Tiffany Hayes, who represented Azerbaijan within the 3-on-3 match.
Wilson was on monitor to win her third MVP award after scoring 21 factors and grabbing 13 rebounds within the U.S.’s 67-66 gold-medal win over France on Sunday.
The seven-year veteran leads the league in scoring (27.2 factors per recreation) and is tied with Chicago Sky star rookie Angel Reese for the lead in rebounds per recreation (12.0 factors per recreation).
Though Ionescu and Stewart are now not her teammates, Wilson is keen to compete with their respective groups as they compete for the WNBA championship.
“There’s at all times a mutual respect between us. I believe that is the fantastic thing about our league – how we will flip that change in these moments,” Wilson stated.
“Everyone knows what we wish to pursue now. We checked the field for gold. Now it is actually time to go.”
–Scene-level media
